Hela Governor

Undialu made the call after a daily ran a story on K15 million in royalty from the PNG LNG project to be paid to the four plant site villages in Central – Boera, Porebada, Papa and Lealea.

“How on earth you will pay when the custodians of Gigira Laitebo are still waiting after 350-plus shipment?” Undialu asked.

He said the Government has failed the Hela people from day one at the signing of UBSA and LBBSA in Kokopo.

 They said this could be done until until such time the vetting process is done and genuine landowners are identified in their specific provinces.

Hela Governor, Francis Potape, and Southern Highlands Governor, William Powi, said this on TVWAN’s ‘Nau’ Program last night.

Both Governors said as the duly elected leaders of their respective provinces, they could sign on behalf of the unidentified leaders given the looming deadline on December 31.

The amended notice of motion filed on Sept 19 in the Election Petition Originating Summons No.8/2016 seeks, amongst other things, an order restraining Potape from performing the functions and duties as Governor for Hela Province.

That motion briefly went before the National Court this morning but could not be heard as the defendants’ lawyers, including Potape’s lawyer, were not served the motion.

Undialu’s lawyer Justin Wohuinangu said they could not effect service of the motion on Potape’s lawyer Philip Ame.

City residents urged to unite with red, black and gold colours

http://www.looppng.com/content/city-residents-urged-unite-red-black-and-gold-colours

City residents in Port Moresby are urged to unite as one county by promoting the colours red, black and gold on the National Flag.

Street and music festival set for Independence celebration

This announcement comes following reports that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Inter-government Relations, Sir Leo Dion, formally announced Member for Koroba-Lake Kopiago, Philip Undialu, as the legitimate governor of the new province.

Potape is taking this matter to court on grounds that only a governor is eligible to conduct a provincial assembly and not the clerk of the assembly.

He says in the absence of a governor, the organic law stipulates that a deputy governor automatically becomes the acting chairman and should be the one chairing the assembly.

A guard of honour was done by the PNGDF officers while a red carpet was laid as the pall bearers carried the late Agiru out from a chartered plane.

No tribal fights or other bad behaviours have been experienced so far.

The body will be handed over to the Hela Provincial Government by the Speaker of Parliament, Theo Zurenuoc, this afternoon.

All business houses and schools have been closed as the people prepare to receive the body of the late governor.

Polye has described the move by the provincial assembly on Tuesday as a ‘work of power hungry politicians and another plot by the government to suppress the governor,’ who has spoken openly against the transaction.

“We believe the purported removal of the Hela Governor is another plot by the Government to suppress him.

“My Hela-Opene brother has spoken openly against the government’s move to mortgage the landowners’ 4.27 per cent equity share in the LNG project through the issuance of the sovereign bond to fund K2.1 billion deficit in 2016 Budget,” he said.